Kosta Legal

Managing Partner: Mr Azizbek Akhmadjonov
Number of Partners: 3
Number of Lawyers: 8
Languages: English, German, Russian, Tajik, Uzbek

Firm Overview:
Kosta Legal is a results-oriented law firm offering a wide range of legal services to foreign investors. The firm works with multi-national and Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions (including regional development banks), the governments of different states, and small and medium-sized businesses, along with start-ups. Lawyers at Kosta Legal are uniquely qualified to address challenges of the foreign investors in the Uzbek market and the firm has the necessary legal expertise, resources and flexibility to overcome matters of various complexities.

Main Areas of Practice:
Banking & Finance
Competition & Antitrust
Compliance & Regulatory
Corporate & M&A
Cross-Border Trade & Customs
Development
Dispute Resolution
Energy & Natural Resources
Labour & Employment
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Project Finance & Infrastructure
Real Estate & Construction
Retail & Consumer Goods
Telecommunications, Media & Technology

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking & Finance:
■Advising a European private investment fund on financing a leading financial lease company
■Advising Asian financial institution on financing a green-field project in the agricultural sector
■Advising on regulatory environment of the banking industry, particularly microfinance institutions and legal developments in mobile banking

Competition & Antitrust:
■Representing a leading global pharmaceutical company in an administrative hearing on unfair competition practices of its competitor
■Advising a European investor in obtaining M&A clearance from the state competition authority for the purchase of a holding company operating in FMCG market
■Representing a client in a dispute against the state competition authorities on alleged restrictive practices

Compliance:
■Examining internal compliance policies of one of the world leading pharmaceutical corporations for their compliance with Uzbek law requirements
■Conducting due diligence with respect to practical implementation and use of KYC and AML policies in one of the commercial banks of Uzbekistan
■Undertaking asset trace within the frames of cross-border commercial litigation
■Undertaking reputational risk review of a potential distributor of a world leading company in FMCG market

Corporate & M&A:
■Advising a Middle Eastern investor in the deal for purchase of 25% shares of a commercial bank
■Drafting and negotiating a joint-venture agreement between a foreign investor and an Uzbek state-owned company in the chemical industry
■Rendering corporate secretary services to a group of companies owned by a foreign investment institution
■Representing interests of an European investor in dismissal of its subsidiary’s management and restoration of control over the company
■Advising European client in complex crossborder bankruptcy proceedings
■Representing UK company in liquidation proceedings of its subsidiary

Cross-Border Trade & Customs:
■Developing and implementing a unique route for importation of automobiles in the context of strict customs and state standardisation controls as well as existing forex regulations
■Regular advising foreign goods suppliers on various ways to receive payments in hard currency considering the complications existing with foreign currency conversion in Uzbekistan
■Representing a client in a court dispute against the state customs regarding an incorrect levy of customs payments

Dispute Resolution:
■Representing a Chinese supplier in a dispute regarding implementation of the turnkey project on the construction of a cement factory with the capacity of 500-700 tonnes per day
■Representing interest of one of the European contractors in a dispute on registration and taxation of its permanent establishment
■Representing a client in the process of recognition and enforcement of international arbitration award

Labour & Employment:
■Conducting employment due diligence of a company operating in the mining industry
■Assisting a client operating in the oil and gas sector in the process of attraction of foreign labour force
■Developing internal employment policies and regular monitoring of employment practice for its compliance with theses internal policies for a client operating in the pharmaceutical industry
■Representing a company in its dispute with employees regarding staff reduction

Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare:
■Assisting a client in obtaining the license for production and wholesale of pharmaceuticals
■Legal due diligence of a large pharmaceuticals production facility
■Representing a world leading pharmaceutical company in its project for conducting clinical studies in Uzbekistan
■Assisting a client on import of non-standard medical equipment and receipt of mandatory state certifications and permits

Real Estate & Construction:
■Assisting an investor in its acquisition of a company operating in the market of commercial real estate lease by conducting a full-fledged due diligence of the target, advising on market conditions and rendering comprehensive transaction support ■Acting as a counsel at the project for construction of an energy plant
■Assisting an oil and gas company in obtaining a mining allotment decision and the license for exploration of gas fields
■Advising a client on purchase of numerous land plots with operating farms